Background:
A study examining 272 adults who had suffered with neck pain for two to 12 weeks demonstrated that neck pain improved more with chiropractic care than with either over-the-counter or prescription drugs.
What Does the Research Show?
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine analyzed results achieved from chiropractic care as compared to medication given by a medical doctor at various times over a 12-week treatment period.
After the 12-week treatment, roughly twice as many chiropractic patients reported significant relief of pain. 57 percent of the chiropractic group reported at least a 75 percent reduction in their pain, compared to 33 percent in the medication group. Even better results were seen among chiropractic patients when looking at those who saw their pain completely go away: 32 percent in the chiropractic group versus 13 percent in the medication group.
What About Long-Term Results?
Perhaps most important are long term results. Here again chiropractic came out ahead. After six months 75 percent of chiropractic patients had at least a 50 percent reduction in their pain levels, while the medication group had 59 percent of their patients benefiting from a 50 percent reduction in their pain.
What is the Lesson Learned?
Let me quote from the authors of this study. “Participants who received medication seemed to fare worse, with a consistently higher use of pain medications for neck pain throughout the trial’s observation period” The next time you or someone you know is having neck pain, turn to a doctor of chiropractic. This is advice coming from the Annals of Internal Medicine